Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 847

The crane was incredibly agile, creating sharp, whistling sounds with each swipe of its claws and peck of its beak. However, the four-winged, horned monster bird was shrouded in a multicolored aura, deflecting every attack.

Enraged, the crane flapped its wings from a distance of several dozen feet. Dozens of long feathers transformed into sharp blades, flying into the multicolored aura.

The blades vibrated against the multicolored aura, as if about to shatter it.

*Kee-ack!*

The crane, delighted, was about to attack with its feathers again when the monster bird let out a sharp screech and expelled a yellow gust of wind from its mouth. The incoming blades faltered, spinning in the air, losing control.

Startled, the crane opened its mouth and released a milky white pillar of light. The monster bird’s purple eyes flashed, and a red pillar of light shot from its black horn.

*Kuwakwang!*

The two pillars of light collided in mid-air with a deafening roar and dissipated.

“Brother Sun, if you have any other divine abilities, show them quickly. Otherwise, I will attack.”

“Hmph, what else could a Horned Eagle Clan divine ability be?”

The crane retorted coldly at the monster bird’s words.

“If that’s what you think, I’ll show you a divine ability I recently mastered.”

The monster bird spoke confidently, flapping its four wings simultaneously, creating a large, ancient bell within the light.

“That’s!”

Many of the onlookers recoiled in surprise, while only a few with high cultivation remained in place.

*Dong-*

The yellow bell emitted a low chime, and those who heard it felt their minds go blank, affecting their actions. The crane, who had been attacked directly, couldn’t even open its mouth and fell from the sky.

At the same time, a white light flashed from the crane’s body, and it transformed into a Bi Spirit Clan man of about thirty years old, wearing a white robe. Someone from the crowd quickly flew up, caught the man, and landed on the ground.

The yellow bell flickered and transformed into a young man in a pale robe, who clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

“Do you concede?”

The crane man, barely regaining his senses and freeing himself from his companion’s grasp, looked up at the pale-robed youth in the sky with a troubled expression.

The crane man and his companions had faces similar to the Human Race, but their ears were pointed, and they had round, red bumps on their skulls.

The pale-robed man, who had been the monster bird, had a small black horn on his forehead and sharp fangs protruding a few inches from his lips.

Furthermore, most of the hundred or so Bi Spirit Clan members surrounding them were different from the Human Race in some way.

“The Horned Eagle Clan’s Heavenly Bell Subduing Demon divine ability is truly powerful. I have learned much.”

The defeated man, clearly displeased, bowed politely and returned to the crowd, huffing.

“Is there anyone else?”

The pale-robed youth looked around confidently. The Bi Spirit Clan crowd murmured, but no one stepped forward. The youth sneered at this. Suddenly, a voice came from afar.

“Look! The Saintly Ones of the Five Lights Clan, the Heavenly Peng Clan, and the Scarlet Rong Clan are coming from the west.”

At those words, the murmuring grew louder, and everyone turned to look at the distant sky. The pale-robed man in the air subtly changed his expression at the mention of the ‘Heavenly Peng Clan’ and quietly descended to the ground.

From beyond the mountain peak, dozens of giant birds of various appearances and a scorpion with bright red wings were approaching side by side.

Some of the giant birds were pure white, the group that had departed from the Heavenly Peng Clan’s sacred ground. The Heavenly Peng Clan’s group included the three Saintly Ones, as well as Elder Jin Yeol and Elder Seok.

They were with members of other clans: one was a Scarlet Rong Clan member with purple hair and red skin, and the others were members of the Five Lights Clan with small wings and colorful attire.

They were far more numerous than the Heavenly Peng Clan, who were only five.

“Elder Jin, it seems the elders of the Jade Emperor Peak knew of our arrival. They have released welcoming spirit flames.”

A young woman in colorful attire said with a smile. As she spoke, five-colored flames soared into the sky above the massive mountain peak, shining beautifully.

“It’s not like we haven’t seen it before. Time passes quickly. It’s been another three hundred years in the blink of an eye! Brother Chuk, what are your thoughts on being here again?”

Jin Yeol turned his head and asked another red-skinned elder.

“What is there to think? If we don’t cultivate to the True Spirit level or ascend to the Immortal Realm, we’ll all turn to dust in a few thousand or tens of thousands of years. The rise and fall of each clan is the same. Have you considered what I mentioned a few days ago?”

The old man asked expressionlessly.

“It is true that our Heavenly Peng Clan has weakened compared to the past, but it is one of the oldest and most historically significant branches that has been maintained since ancient times. How could I abandon our heritage and join another branch? I am grateful for your words, Brother Chuk, but I must refuse.”

Jin Yeol’s eyes flashed as he answered calmly.

“Is that so? If my memory serves me right, didn’t the Five Feather Clan, which Elder Seok belonged to in ancient times, also get swallowed up when your clan was at its peak? Now that the Heavenly Peng Clan has declined, shouldn’t you join another powerful clan and give your place to another clan?”

Elder Chuk smiled coldly.

“You cannot compare the Five Feather Clan’s situation to ours. At that time, the Five Feather Clan had lost their clan leader and were facing a powerful enemy, so they requested to join our Heavenly Peng Clan first. It was not something our clan forced.”

Jin Yeol calmly retorted.

“Hmph, it’s been so long, who would know now? Anyway, since you have rejected our clan’s goodwill, I will be watching closely to see who passes this trial of destiny. If no one passes, don’t blame us if the United Elders Council forcibly removes you. And remember, there are many others besides our Scarlet Rong Clan who have their eyes on the Heavenly Peng Clan.”

Elder Chuk let out a sinister laugh.

“Brother Chuk, the Scarlet Rong Clan is already among the top three strongest of the 72 Bi Spirit Clan branches. Is there really a need to pressure the Heavenly Peng Clan to merge? Does that mean you can’t stand not overwhelming the Nine Yue Clan?”

Lady Mi smiled sweetly.

“Lady Chu, do not speak carelessly. This elder has never said anything disrespectful about the Nine Yue Clan.”

Elder Chuk’s expression changed at Lady Mi’s words, and he quickly denied it. Lady Mi was about to say something when music began to play from the massive mountain peak, and a large amount of spiritual energy surged forth.

Those who had been talking immediately closed their mouths and stopped their movements. Suddenly, figures in various attire appeared within the spiritual energy.

“Greetings, Elders.”

Jin Yeol, Elder Chuk, and Lady Chu bowed to the ten figures who had come to greet them, dismounting from their spirit beasts.

“There is no need to be so formal. You will all become members of the United Elders Council someday. The other elders are all waiting at the Jade Emperor Peak.”

An old woman with a staff smiled and greeted them.

“Are we the last of the three clans to arrive?”

Jin Yeol asked politely.

“You are not the last. The Ghost Face Clan and the Poisonous Dove Clan, located in the north, have urgent matters to attend to and will arrive when the trial opens.”

“I see.”

Han Li, who was standing behind them, scanned the ten figures and felt his heart sink.

Most of them had cultivation levels above the Fusion stage [a high level of power], and the old woman who was speaking at the front seemed to be beyond his ability to gauge, leading him to believe she was at least in the mid-Fusion stage, like Jin Yeol.

‘These must be the elders of the United Elders Council that I’ve heard about.’

It was said that when elders from each clan were nearing the end of their lifespans, they would join the United Elders Council. After that, they would abandon all positions and statuses they held in their respective clans and work for the entire Bi Spirit Clan.

Elder Chuk and Lady Chu exchanged a few words and then followed their guides toward the massive mountain peak.

Shortly after, as Han Li approached the massive mountain peak, he could see the huge buildings in front of him and the small black dots in the sky. Upon closer inspection, he saw that they were hundreds of various birds flying around.

*Thump!*

A heavy sound echoed from a few miles away, and a seven-colored rainbow flew out from one of the mountain peak’s buildings, arriving in front of them. It was a beautiful, large, arched bridge.

The elders of the United Elders Council stepped onto the bridge first, and the old woman turned her head, smiled, and gestured.

“Let’s go down.”

Jin Yeol ordered and dismounted from his giant bird, stepping onto the arched bridge. Lady Chu and Elder Chuk’s group did the same.

As Han Li stepped onto the arched bridge, he was amazed by its soft, elastic texture. It felt like standing on a thick cushion.

Below the bridge, twenty Bi Spirit Clan members were staring intently at the newcomers. White energy rose behind them, and a large, light green palace was faintly visible.

Two people were waiting for them at the other end of the bridge: one was a middle-aged man with white hair and a large nose, and the other was an old man with a wrinkled face and black tattoos on his neck.

“You have worked hard to bring the Saintly Ones from so far. The Saintly Ones should go to the side hall to rest, and the elders should come inside the palace with us old ones. The other elders are already inside.”

The tattooed old man said kindly to the group.

“Of course, we must follow Elder Myung’s words!”

Elder Chuk of the Scarlet Rong Clan replied with a beaming smile, taking the lead. Lady Chu also agreed. They each instructed their Saintly Ones and entered the white mist.

“Saintly Ones, please follow me. I will arrange your accommodations.”

A small, delicate girl in a white robe, who had been standing there since who knows when, smiled brightly.

“We are in your care, Fellow Cultivator.”

One of the Scarlet Rong Clan’s Saintly Ones replied politely. Surprisingly, the Scarlet Rong Clan had sent seven Saintly Ones. Next was the Five Lights Clan with a total of five, and the Heavenly Peng Clan had only three, including Han Li.

The Heavenly Peng Clan had sent all of their Saintly Ones to participate in the trial, but the other clans were clearly hiding some in case of emergencies. Furthermore, most of the Saintly Ones from the other two clans were at least in the mid-Transformation stage [a high level of power], making them far superior to Baek Byeok and Noe Ran.

It was natural for the other clans to target the Heavenly Peng Clan, and the Heavenly Peng Clan had accepted all sorts of conditions to bring Han Li in.

Even in the Spirit Realm, the law of the jungle applied regardless of clan.

Han Li, along with Baek Byeok and Noe Ran, followed behind the Five Lights Clan’s Saintly Ones, who were behind the Scarlet Rong Clan’s group. The people in the front and back were unconsciously keeping their distance.

Among the Scarlet Rong Clan’s Saintly Ones, Han Li paid the most attention to a man with a fierce expression. The other Scarlet Rong Clan Saintly Ones had similar cultivation levels, but he was the only one who gave off a sense of danger.

Han Li narrowed his eyes and looked at the man’s back.

“It seems Brother Han is interested in Chuk Eumja.”

A young woman from the Five Lights Clan suddenly smiled and spoke to him. Although Han Li was a fake Saintly One, he was the highest-ranking Bi Spirit General, so the Saintly Ones regarded him as the leader of the Heavenly Peng Clan’s Saintly Ones.

Moreover, seeing Han Li’s unfamiliar face, they thought he was a ‘secret weapon’ that the Heavenly Peng Clan had secretly raised, so they paid even more attention to him.

They hadn’t been able to talk freely while the elders were present, but now that they were moving separately, the Five Lights Clan woman had taken the initiative.

Of course, this was possible because the Heavenly Peng Clan and the Five Lights Clan had always maintained a good relationship. The Scarlet Rong Clan’s Saintly Ones were curious but did not approach first.

“It’s not that. I was thinking that Brother Chuk’s body emanates a deep killing intent, suggesting he has participated in many battles.”

“It seems it’s true that Brother Han has been overseas all this time. Chuk Eumja is very famous among our generation. He has entered the trial of destiny seven times alone and killed countless monsters. He is a well-known figure along with Oh Cheong of the Seven Yue Clan and Bi Ya of the Southern Long Clan. It is said that he has power comparable to a mid-stage Spirit Master.”

“I see.”

Han Li nodded at the Five Lights Clan woman’s explanation and did not speak further.